Here are a few photos I took at the 1988 lead sled spectacular in Holland Michigan. It was almost unreal, coming from Sweden where customs were very rare at the time, and walk around among hundreds of customs. My big hero at the time, and I guess he still is, was Doug Thompson and seeing that trio built by him in real life left a huge impression. Funny thing is that one of the photo of the Chevy already posted here is almost a copy of the photo I took. I believe they had the show at the same location for a couple of years. Sorry for the bad scans.

When we did our book Scrapbook (which Rik was nice enough to review on CCC), we included photos taken by Steve Box during a 1950 trip from New Mexico to So Cal and Bonneville in his lowered, skirted ’46 Ford. He snapped photos the whole way, and came up with some real gold in terms of early, immediate post-WWII customs. Here are a couple of my favorites.

Here’s an unknown ’39 Ford Tudor on South Vermont in L.A., not far from the Carson top shop.

Thanks for those wonderful early Custom Car photos Curt. I really love those.
That chopped ’39 two door really makes you.. or at least me, wonder why we do not see more of these sedans as custom cars.
Love the four door Merc as well.Perfect ride for a family guy.

Kenneth, I have no info on the color used on Jerry Quesnel’s Merc. But in those days Barris and most others custom mixed most of the colors they used. They wanted to be each car different for any thing else on the road.

CUSTOM CAR CHRONICLE

ABOUT THE MAGAZINE

This online magazine created and written by a group of international custom car, hot rod, model car, art, design, photography and architecture enthusiasts and experts, who share a common felt mission to show and share the beauty of customizing.

It’s all about design, perfect proportions, the right feeling, the history and everything that inspired people to built beautiful cars for decades.
In the Magazine and the Forum you can find inspiration and search for historic details. Or just have a good time sharing their own stories and material with other people who share the same passion.

About CCC

Custom Car Chronicle is a online magazine and forum, for custom car and hot rod people who are looking for inspiration, historical knowledge, and a place were their passion can be shared.

CCC is created by a small, international group of custom car, hot rod, model car, art, design-, photography-, and architecture enthusiasts.
Editor in chief is custom car historian- Rik Hoving.

For centuries people are inspired to built beautiful cars. CCC focuses on everything that ignites that special inspiration: design, history, technology, perfect proportions, the right feeling, and amazing personal stories.